One of the ways hair loss is classified is by how it is distributed on the scalp — whether it is focal or diffuse.
Focal alopecia involves localised hair loss, resulting in the formation of bald patches on the scalp. In contrast, hair loss is considered diffuse when it affects the entire scalp.
Here, you’ll learn more about the latter, along with its causes and treatments.
What Is Diffuse Hair Loss?
The term diffuse hair loss refers to the loss of hair throughout your scalp. You may notice more hair on your pillowcase or drain as a result of increased hair fall. Additionally, depending on the extent of hair loss, your scalp may be visible through your hair.
The condition can affect both men and women and doesn’t discriminate by age — it can affect young children as well as adults, based on its underlying cause.
Causes Of Diffuse Hair Loss & Their Treatments
In many cases, diffuse hair loss is caused by telogen effluvium, chronic telogen effluvium and female pattern baldness (or female androgenetic alopecia). Additionally, however, it can also be caused by genetic mutations, autoimmune disorder, chemo and radiotherapy, and thyroid disorders, among other factors.
Some of the conditions causing diffuse hair thinning are discussed below:
Telogen Effluvium
The most common cause of diffuse alopecia is telogen effluvium, which can cause up to 300 hairs to fall out each day rather than the normal 50-100 stands. Even so, the condition is temporary and does not cause complete baldness.
The cause of telogen effluvium can be a number of things, such as stress, childbirth, major surgery, infection, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and certain medications.
Acute and Chronic Telogen Effuvium
Notably, telogen effluvium can be acute and chronic. This type of hair loss is considered acute when it lasts for 6 months but chronic when it persists for longer than that.
The latter usually affects women between 30 and 60; it can occur without any obvious cause and can cause your hair to fall out in handfuls. Chronic telogen effluvium also tends to fluctuate (comes and goes) and can last for years. Although debated, this type of hair loss has even been considered distinct from telogen effluvium.
Treatment
Since telogen effluvium is usually a self-limiting condition, it might not require any treatment.
Chronic diffuse telogen effluvium may, however, be treated with minoxidil. As well, a study suggests that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could be useful in treating this condition.
Bear in mind that since this condition can be caused by several factors, the underlying cause should be treated to address the hair loss.
Thyroid Disorder
Diffuse hair loss can be caused by severe and long-lasting hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), according to the British Thyroid Foundation.
In addition to diffuse hair loss, a thyroid disorder can also affect your hair in other ways. For instance, according to a study, hypothyroidism can make the hair “coarse, dry, brittle” and it can also make it grow more slowly.
Treatment
To stop diffuse hair loss from thyroid disorder, you need to get treatment for your condition. The course of action can vary depending on the type of thyroid disorder you have.
The treatment of hypothyroidism usually involves thyroid hormone replacement therapy, while you may be given antithyroid medication, radioiodine therapy, thyroidectomy surgery or beta-blockers.
Loose Anagen Syndrome
Loose anagen syndrome is a congenital condition in which the hair is “loosely” anchored into the follicles, and it usually causes diffuse hair loss.
Though this condition can affect both boys and girls as well as adults, it is most commonly seen in Caucasian children (between 2 and 5 years old) with blonde hair.
Treatment
Treatment for loose anagen syndrome may involve minoxidil, as there has been some promising research on that. Though biotin supplements are considered another treatment, there is no evidence they work.
Fortunately, however, loose anagen syndrome is also a self-limiting condition that can get better with time.
Female Androgenetic Alopecia
In both men and women, androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss. However, there’s a crucial difference between male and female pattern hair loss: male pattern baldness progresses in a distinct pattern/stages while female pattern hair loss is diffuse.
Though the hairline is maintained, diffuse thinning occurs in the front and crown areas of the scalp. While the condition rarely results in complete baldness, in its advanced stages, it is very noticeable that the scalp is visible through the hair.
Treatment
Treatment for female pattern baldness can include medication, such as minoxidil, finasteride, birth control pills, and spironolactone. The anti-dandruff ketoconazole shampoo might also be suggested in your treatment plan.
Non-surgical treatment can include injections of platelet-rich plasma and low-level light therapy. Additionally, it’s also possible for women with androgenetic alopecia to get a hair transplant.
Diffuse Patterned and Unpatterned Hair Loss In Men
Androgenetic alopecia is notably classified into different stages on the Norwood-Hamilton Scale. While in many people, pattern hair loss progresses in this pattern, there are also variants of androgenetic alopecia, including diffuse patterned alopecia and diffuse unpatterned alopecia.
In diffuse patterned alopecia, hair thinning (miniaturisation) occurs diffusely across the front, mid-scalp, crown and some area at the back of the scalp. Since stable hair is still left at the back of the scalp, it is possible for you to undergo a hair transplant with this type of hair loss. Although, of course, non-surgical treatments may also be an option.
On the other hand, in diffuse unpatterned alopecia, the entire scalp experiences hair loss, leaving no “stable” area. Since a donor area is absent in such patients, it’s not possible for them to have a hair transplant, but there might be certain non-surgical treatments that could help.
Alopecia Areata Incognita
Despite alopecia areata‘s reputation for causing patchy hair loss, a certain type of this condition can also cause diffuse hair loss.
Diffuse alopecia areata, also known as alopecia areata incognita, is a rare variant of alopecia areata that results in diffuse hair loss. It is also “abrupt and intense” and more commonly affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 40, as noted in a 2011 study.
Treatment
Treatment for alopecia areata incognita can include steroids.
Anagen Effluvium
Anagen effluvium is a type of hair loss that occurs due to an interruption of the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle, and it can also result in diffuse hair loss.
This condition can be caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, intoxication from heavy metals, as well as certain medications and health problems.
According to a 2014 review of alopecias, anagen effluvium can affect as much as 80-90% of the scalp and hair loss can begin within 1-4 weeks of exposure.
Treatment
Treatment for anagen effluvium may involve minoxidil.
However, in order to prevent hair loss caused by a treatment such as chemotherapy, scalp cooling (scalp hypothermia) might be suggested.
Alopecia Syphilitica
Alopecia syphilitca is a rare manifestation of secondary syphilis, which can cause hair loss in a diffuse, moth-eaten pattern or a combination of both, per a study published in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.
Treatment
According to the researchers of the above study, treatment for alopecia syphilitca is the same as the treatment for secondary syphilis — which is an antibiotic. That’s because the former is a result of the latter.
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder in which a person has an irresistible urge to pluck out their own hair. As a result of this condition, a person can end up with irregularly shaped bald patches on their scalp or experience diffuse scalp hair loss.
While the exact cause of this condition is unclear, trichotillomania can be triggered by feelings of stress, boredom, fatigue and anger.
Treatment
For the treatment of trichotillomania, you’ll likely need habit reversal therapy (HRT), which is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Medication may also be prescribed for trichotillomania.
Involutional Alopecia
Involutional alopecia, also known as senescent or senile alopecia, is a type of hair loss that naturally occurs as a result of ageing. It does not follow any distinct pattern, instead, the hair loss occurs diffusely.
Treatment
Your doctor might recommend minoxidil for the treatment of this type of alopecia; certain health and lifestyle changes might also be suggested.
Is Diffuse Hair Loss Permanent?
Diffuse thinning may or may not be permanent, depending on the underlying cause.
Telogen Effluvium: It is a type of temporary hair loss, which is generally reversible, so you should be able to grow your hair back.
Thyroid Disorder: It also does not cause permanent hair loss and is typically reversible.
Loose Anagen Syndrome: It is a condition that tends to improve with age and is usually temporary.
Female Androgenetic Alopecia: It is a permanent condition and can only be reversed with treatment.
Alopecia Areata Incognita: It is possible to regrow your hair if you have diffuse alopecia areata, however, you may lose it again if the condition recurs.
Anagen Effluvium: It is usually temporary and reversible, but it can, sometimes, be permanent.
Trichotillomania: Early management of this condition can allow your hair to grow back, but prolonged pulling can result in permanent hair loss.
Involutional Alopecia: Since the condition is caused by the natural process of ageing, it is permanent.
Experiencing Hair Loss?
At Longevita, we offer a range of surgical and non-surgical treatment options for different types of hair loss, including platelet-rich plasma injections, polynucleotide injectables and FUE hair transplants. If you’re interested in learning more about how these treatments might help you, get in touch with us!
